Top 9 (10:44): Well, there goes the shutout. Should have been over with a Soto strikeout, but the First Base Umpire is evidently an idiot. Anyways, a Reed Johnson strikeout brings this one to a close.
Meanwhile, in Houston, the Brewers are losing by 5. Good night. Goodnight.
Bottom 8 (10:28): Nothing happened. Whatever. C'mon Franklin!
Top 8 (10:22): Jason Motte sucks, then doesn't. Dennys Reyes made Fukudome look like an idiot.
3 MORE OUTS!!
Bottom 7 (10:11): Rick Sutcliffe is absolutely gushing over the new Busch Stadium. For a former Cub, I sort of like this guy.
Another hit from Duncan starts the inning off right. Sacrifice works from Barden (although it probably should not have). Walk to get to Khalil Greene who flies out weakly. Heads up running play from Duncan on a ball that shouldn't have scored the run.
Dempster out. 2-run lead. I feel better, but I wonder who is coming in
Top 7 (9:54): "Another good inning from McClellan."
Bottom 6 (9:49): Another inning ending double play. Chances of victory: 55%
Top 6 (9:40): McClellan pitched nicely. I hate hitting batters, but if you have to hit someone I suppose I prefer Fukudome, who is most likely to get on anyway. Nice K to end the inning.
GET SOME RUNS!!
Bottom 5 (9:30): Carpenter is done. Damn.
Waino pinch-hitting, that is how shallow the Cardinal bench is. Feeble strike out.
Kyle McClellan is warming up. I am confident that the Cardinals are going to lose if they don't score again.
Another easy inning for Dempster.
Top 5 (9:24): I ran to the restroom (TMI?) and suddenly the top half of the inning was over. I guess that's a good thing. I hope Carp isn't at 75. :(
Bottom 4 (9:18): Pujols turned a single into a double. My heavens this man is good! Molina moves him over to 3rd for Duncan. I am supremely concerned about a K here, or weak grounder back to the pitcher. What shall it be ... base knock! Run! Credit Albert Pujols for creating that opportunity.
Stavinoha adds a double-play to his strike out in his first at bat. I am not impressed.
Top 4 (9:11): Lead-off walk = shit. Fly out leads to double play! Another fly out ends the inning. I am pleased.
That said, the broadcasters seem to think Carp is on a 75 pitch pitch count. Dang. I fear we are looking at at least four innings from the bullpen.
Bottom 3 (9:00): Carp swung! Weak grounder though. Ugh. Schumaker reaches but Rasmus lines into a double play in front of Pujols. Crap.
Top 3 (8:52): The Cubs hitters that have reached have all done so by going with the pitches and taking them to the opposite field. Anyways, Carp gave up a double (it was a single and Stavinoha took his sweet time getting to it) but got out of it. Carp is up next, let's see if he swings.
Bottom 2 (8:44): DO SOMETHING!!!
Top 2 (8:37): Yep, a pitcher's duel. Settle in.
Bottom 1 (8:30): Ugh. Is this going to be a pitcher's duel? *Sigh*
Top 1 (8:22): Soriano K - grrrreat! So excited! Then the crap from Carp. Walk to Fukudome. Derrick Lee single. Then a double-play! It worked out. Whew!
Thank you, ESPN, for this evening. That said, your love of the Cubs is bound to annoy ths shit out of me tonight, but you can't be any worse than WGN ... I hope.
Before we start, let's have a look at Alphonso Soriano looking ridiculous during a WWE event in Chicago. PLAY BALL!
Showing posts with label Chris Carpenter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chris Carpenter. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Good News, Bad News
Good: Carpenter felt no pain in a 75-pitch, full speed outing yesterday and could make a start next week.
Bad: Ludwick is probably heading to the Disabled List. After having one too many outfielders for the past month and a half, the Cardinals now find themselves one short. Grrrrreat!
Bad: Ludwick is probably heading to the Disabled List. After having one too many outfielders for the past month and a half, the Cardinals now find themselves one short. Grrrrreat!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
It's Official, Carp to DL
Bullpen loss last night plus at least 3 missed starts, this is a terrible bit of news. This also struck me:
Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said Tuesday. "That kind of overwhelms everything else that happened in that game. ... I'm not happy. This is a [bad] day. I'm not going to fake it."I am sorry if I am taking the quote out of context, but I would like it if Tony cared a little more about last night's loss. I wasn't privy to the whole interview, but while I think that a DL stint for Carp is terribly frustrating, last night's loss should not be brushed aside. The Cardinals have some other serious issues to address.
Carp Destined For DL
If you can find a silver-lining in this article, please let me know in the comments.
From the article:
From the article:
The “fortunate thing”, according to Carpenter, is that he’s sure it has nothing to do with his elbow — which is twice surgically repaire in the past two years — nor is it anything related to the nerve condition he had in his right shoulder. The strain is on the opposite side of the body.Grrrrrreat.“It will just take time,” Carpenter said.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Break It Down! April 14th Edition
The Pitchers:
- Cardinals: Chris Carpenter and all the Cardinals faithful must feel better today than they felt five days ago. I know I do. Five days ago I was cautiously optimistic about Carp's performance. Today I am thoroughly optimistic. That having been said, in just 7 innings against the Diamondbacks the past 3 seasons Carpenter has allowed 0 earned runs. That isn't saying much though, since many of the players on the D-backs weren't even in the majors 3 years ago. In fact, D-back regulars only have 23 ABs against Carpenter. I expect big things, frankly, but I will take a quality start. Baby steps. Oh, btw, Cardinals starters are 6-1.
- Diamondbacks: Max Scherzer, a D-back "phenom" starter, is making his first start of the season on Tuesday. This guy gets a lot of press, but he was 0-4 last season in the seven games he started. One of those losses was to the Cardinals, Scherzer's home town team, when Scherzer allowed 4 runs (2 earned) in 7 innings. That game was at Busch though, so there is a road-home off-set, maybe. Whatever the case, it is hard to guess what we should expect from this 24 year-old righty. According to ESPN, the Cardinals only have 6 ABs against Scherzer. That seems impossible, right? Then I looked up the one start Scherzer had against the Cards. So, yeah, not much to glean from that.
The Lineups:
- Cardinals: Albert Pujols (surprise!) is always a safe bet. Also, Skip Schumaker has 2 hits in 3 ABs against Scherzer. Expect to see Skip and Rasmus back in the lineup after a day off.
- Diamondbacks: A few of the losers have had a little bit of success against Carp, but it seems like so long ago. Tony Clark has had some meaningful success (11 hits in 31 ABs), so you should maybe expect to see him to start.
Well that's it in the way of analysis(?). Wish I were in Phoenix. GO CARDS!!
- Cardinals: Chris Carpenter and all the Cardinals faithful must feel better today than they felt five days ago. I know I do. Five days ago I was cautiously optimistic about Carp's performance. Today I am thoroughly optimistic. That having been said, in just 7 innings against the Diamondbacks the past 3 seasons Carpenter has allowed 0 earned runs. That isn't saying much though, since many of the players on the D-backs weren't even in the majors 3 years ago. In fact, D-back regulars only have 23 ABs against Carpenter. I expect big things, frankly, but I will take a quality start. Baby steps. Oh, btw, Cardinals starters are 6-1.
- Diamondbacks: Max Scherzer, a D-back "phenom" starter, is making his first start of the season on Tuesday. This guy gets a lot of press, but he was 0-4 last season in the seven games he started. One of those losses was to the Cardinals, Scherzer's home town team, when Scherzer allowed 4 runs (2 earned) in 7 innings. That game was at Busch though, so there is a road-home off-set, maybe. Whatever the case, it is hard to guess what we should expect from this 24 year-old righty. According to ESPN, the Cardinals only have 6 ABs against Scherzer. That seems impossible, right? Then I looked up the one start Scherzer had against the Cards. So, yeah, not much to glean from that.
The Lineups:
- Cardinals: Albert Pujols (surprise!) is always a safe bet. Also, Skip Schumaker has 2 hits in 3 ABs against Scherzer. Expect to see Skip and Rasmus back in the lineup after a day off.
- Diamondbacks: A few of the losers have had a little bit of success against Carp, but it seems like so long ago. Tony Clark has had some meaningful success (11 hits in 31 ABs), so you should maybe expect to see him to start.
Well that's it in the way of analysis(?). Wish I were in Phoenix. GO CARDS!!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
"That's a Winner!" - 2
This fella really exceeded expectations today, I think. Awesome. Exciting. Grrrrreat!
I am very thankful the Cardinal bats woke up in the bottom of the 7th. How awful would it have been if the Cards lost that game 1 - 0?
Please also note: The Blues have two games to play and they are tied with Anaheim with a two point lead for 7th/8th in the Western Conference playoff race. Nashville is 2 pts. back and play tonight at Detroit and tomorrow at Minnesota. Speaking of The Wild, they are 3 pts. back and play Nashville on Saturday (I just said that) and at Columbus on Sunday. Feeling good, real good.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Break It Down! April 9th Edition
The Pitchers:
- Cardinals: The good news: Former Cy Young Award winner Chris Carpenter says he is healthy and he only allowed 4 runs during the Spring. The bad news: The 4 runs Carp allowed were all in his last start. Oh, also, Carpenter is basically (considered?) as fragile as a faberge egg. (Four starts over the past two seasons.) Soooooooo, is there anything to be said here? Sure. When Chris Carpenter is at his best, he is one of the best pitchers in baseball. Over the past three years (read: in 2006), Carp was 4 - 0 against the Pirates in 4 starts with a 0.90 ERA. Russ likes. Still, no idea what to expect from Carp tomorrow. He may be terrific and he may be Wellemeyer-esque. No idea.
- Pirates: Who is Ross Ohlendorf? I have no idea who this person is. I did a double-take when I read the name. What I have been able to learn from the various sources I consult (Ouija board, tea leaves, etc.), is that this fella is a starting pitcher who throws the baseball with his right hand. In addition, Ohlendorf "is known for his hard-biting sinker," "[h]e can hit 97 mph with a two-seam sinking fastball," and "he's working to improve his developing changeup, slider, and breaking ball." I haven't really got any idea what most of this means. What I do know is that this dude has 5 career starts and a 6.35 ERA. The Cardinals can hit him, right? *GULP*
The Lineups:
- Cardinals: Since no one on the Cardinals has ever had an at bat against Ohlendorf I will just assume that Pujols (surprise!) will be the man today. That means Schumaker and Rasmus (most likely them, anyway), need to get on base in front of him. Joe Thurston may also get a start on account of his two doubles yesterday, but you never know, really, with all of Tony's lineup machinations. Since the Cardinals play 14 straight games to start the season, and today is a day game, Tony may also sit someone - but that would piss me off since it is only the 4th game of the season.
- Pirates: Can we PLEASE keep Nyjer Morgan and Brandon Moss off the basepaths? They have 7 of the Pirates runs in the series. Freddie Sanchez and Jack Wilson have done most of the rest of the damage, with 14 hits and 8 RBI. These are just a few of the names the Cardinals should be concerned about, since the Pirates enjoyed 17 hits yesterday.
Splitting this series is okay, I guess. It is the best we can hope for at this point. *Sigh*
Oh, also, GO ROGER EBERT!
Well that's it in the way of analysis(?). Wish I were in St. Louis. GO CARDS!!
- Cardinals: The good news: Former Cy Young Award winner Chris Carpenter says he is healthy and he only allowed 4 runs during the Spring. The bad news: The 4 runs Carp allowed were all in his last start. Oh, also, Carpenter is basically (considered?) as fragile as a faberge egg. (Four starts over the past two seasons.) Soooooooo, is there anything to be said here? Sure. When Chris Carpenter is at his best, he is one of the best pitchers in baseball. Over the past three years (read: in 2006), Carp was 4 - 0 against the Pirates in 4 starts with a 0.90 ERA. Russ likes. Still, no idea what to expect from Carp tomorrow. He may be terrific and he may be Wellemeyer-esque. No idea.
- Pirates: Who is Ross Ohlendorf? I have no idea who this person is. I did a double-take when I read the name. What I have been able to learn from the various sources I consult (Ouija board, tea leaves, etc.), is that this fella is a starting pitcher who throws the baseball with his right hand. In addition, Ohlendorf "is known for his hard-biting sinker," "[h]e can hit 97 mph with a two-seam sinking fastball," and "he's working to improve his developing changeup, slider, and breaking ball." I haven't really got any idea what most of this means. What I do know is that this dude has 5 career starts and a 6.35 ERA. The Cardinals can hit him, right? *GULP*
The Lineups:
- Cardinals: Since no one on the Cardinals has ever had an at bat against Ohlendorf I will just assume that Pujols (surprise!) will be the man today. That means Schumaker and Rasmus (most likely them, anyway), need to get on base in front of him. Joe Thurston may also get a start on account of his two doubles yesterday, but you never know, really, with all of Tony's lineup machinations. Since the Cardinals play 14 straight games to start the season, and today is a day game, Tony may also sit someone - but that would piss me off since it is only the 4th game of the season.
- Pirates: Can we PLEASE keep Nyjer Morgan and Brandon Moss off the basepaths? They have 7 of the Pirates runs in the series. Freddie Sanchez and Jack Wilson have done most of the rest of the damage, with 14 hits and 8 RBI. These are just a few of the names the Cardinals should be concerned about, since the Pirates enjoyed 17 hits yesterday.
Splitting this series is okay, I guess. It is the best we can hope for at this point. *Sigh*
Oh, also, GO ROGER EBERT!
Well that's it in the way of analysis(?). Wish I were in St. Louis. GO CARDS!!
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